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Prime ministers of Serbia and Montenegro signed agreement on Euro integration

10 December 2013 16:53 (Last updated 10 December 2013 16:57)

We want to see Serbia and Montenegro as part of an united European family, said PM of Montenegro

BELGRADE

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic signed an agreement on cooperation in Euro Integration in Belgrade on Tuesday.

Dacic expressed satisfaction for bilateral relations between the two countries, at the press conference after signing the agreement.

"Serbia wants a close relationship with Montenegro. We have many things in common from the history, the traditional friendship of two nations, but we should also have common interests," said Dacic.

Djukanovic also expressed his satisfaction with "friendly-formal visit" to Serbia.

"I am happy that interstate relations are constantly rising, and that after the problems that have arisen as a consequence of known circumstances that we went through as the two countries and the entire region, this generation of political leaders demonstrate the required level of responsibility to what is historical heritage in relations between Montenegro and Serbia," said Djukanovic.

"In the near future, we want to see Serbia and Montenegro as part of an united European family," he added.

Montenegrin PM is in first formal visit to Serbia after 2006, when Montenegro proclaimed its independence after referendum in which citizens declared that they want to withdraw from the state union Serbia - Montenegro.

Djukanovic also met with vice premier of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic on Tuesday.

- Montenegrins against NATO membership

Montenegro's membership in NATO is supported by 38 per cent of the population, 6 per cent more than in March of this year, while 45 per cent of citizens are against and 17 per cent of respondents have no opinion on the matter, according to the latest research by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR).

CDHR Chief methodologist Milos Besic recalled that in March the number of citizens who are against NATO integration was over 50 per cent.

"But, we definitely have a larger number of opponents than supporters for NATO integration even with the smaller number of undecided voters," said Besic.

The survey showed that 54.6 per cent of respondents believe that the integration of Montenegro into NATO is an important issue, as Besic explained, and it shows the growing interest of the citizens in this topic. About 57 per cent of citizens believe that Montenegro's integration into NATO will contribute to the development of relations with the United States (US) and the European Union (EU), while 52.6 per cent of respondents believe that it will contribute to peace and stability in Montenegro.

Citizens believe that NATO integration will make a negative impact on relations between Montenegro, Serbia and Russia.